How Dangerous is Bold Beauty?

 TikTok has a fairly new AI program that is now about a month old.  It is called Bold Beauty.  It can be downloaded as an editing software extension directly from TikTok.  What the program does is take what the camera is given and enhances the facial or body photos into an idealized version of oneself.  In fact, the photos have become so perfected that young ladies who see the perfected version of themselves want plastic surgeons to create the perfected version, which any plastic surgeon would say is an imposiibility.

It was used at first by influences who were able to transform themselves into a more perfect version of what they already were.  But mental health professionals are worried about the fake images of teens being used to illustrate to them what they aren't.  Some mental health experts have said they have seen an increase of suicidal thoughts by young girls girls increase as much as 59%, when teen suicide rates are up dramatically since Covid.  This just adds to the pressure of being perfect, when one isn't.  

I say that overall TikTok is a form of psychological warfare the Chinese are waging in the West.  Of course, I can't prove this, but psychologically TikTok in itself is addicting and using AI to enhance a person's image to perfection is frightening indeed.  I joined TikTok not long ago just to check it out and like much of social media, I found it rather boring.  But maybe I didn't give it enough time.  My only hope is that somehow TikTok and other social media is monitored by parents and that there has to be a conversation about its uses and dangers.

But I fear that horse has left the barn.  Bold Beauty seems to me to be a very dangerous addition to TikTok that makes it that much more of a social threat to the well-being of mostly teen girls who see themselves not as they are, but an idealized self that cannot be attained.  And I see the program as a form of psychological warfare against the West by the Chinese government. 

Well, that's what I am thinking this morning as I smoke my Willard estate pipe my wife bought me this past Christmas.  I dont know why I can never think of the manufacturer of this pipe.  I can think of so many names but Willard that begin with a "W."  I smoked the last of my Professor yesterday.  But this morning I choose to smoke the last of my Sunset Rum.  The temps are in the low 60's this morning, but another sunny morning here in SW Florida.  I thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave